Why post historic monsters by Carter USM is so important to me.

When I was 14 I had a summer job weeding friends and family’s gardens in Guernsey for £10 a day. I used to listen to 30 something and 101 Damnations back to back. Then the love album came out when I was 16 and by the time Post Historic was out I was able to actually go to see them. At the time I was at Uni in Plymouth. They were playing in Southampton. Figuring that it couldn’t be far (before the days of the internet and sat nav.) I jumped on my battered and beaten Kawasaki and rode the 6 hours to Southampton. By the time I got there, sober, tired and walking like John Wayne they were just coming on. It was amazing. I watched the show, got on my motorbike and rode back. On the M27 near Fareham, my bike exploded and I had to hitch back, but that is a whole another story!
Fast forward many moons to 2003. Rhesus had lost their drummer, I was tasked with finding a replacement. I had recently discovered “the internet” and found the Carter USM homepage. I sent a message to Fruitbat asking if he knew any drummers. Expecting nothing back I carried on the search. Fruitbat emailed me to say his flatmate was a drummer. Basically he had the job, thankfully he turned out to be pretty good. That was Arran. One day I went to pick Arran up from Fruitbats , Arran was late. The man himself opened the door. We got to chatting, I was unemployed at the time (the only month I have ever been un employed in my life!) I could not have timed it better! Fruitbat was going on tour with Jim Bob the next day and needed a guitarist. He asked if I would do it. Of course I would. I left the house with a new drummer, two great new friends and with a tear in my eye. I was listening to post historic monsters that day. On that day my life changed forever.

"Stand up for your rights and dance to the music that nobody likes"

Sisters of Mercy:

For anyone who gives a monkeys.
A brief review of the sisters of mercy.
Last night after a large roast dinner and 3 pints of guinness, Foxy, Sara and myself headed for the Devonshire Arms. I expected the place to be rammed full of the crustier than thou’s from the last 30 years. It wasn’t , it was full of the usual bread of tattooed, bearded gentlemen, and ladies listening to inexplicably popular double bass pedal metal. Where are all the Goths? Are they at the roundhouse drinking cider? It would appear not. Who is at the roundhouse then? To be honest, I don’t really know, or care. I now regret not queuing at the heaving merch stall to buy some most excellent t shirts that you just can’t get elsewhere.
I know that the sisters are terrible live. They “always” are. So as I stand casually chatting to friends drinking 4 further pints. The room is suddenly electric purple. (As you would expect). And along comes the doktar....doktar avalanche. Who is now 3 macbooks, booming out da da da da da da da.....then it is first last and always, and it is great, then it is ribbons and that is great too. In fact it gets better and better until the set is closed on Lucretia my Reflection, Vision Thing and Temple of Love. They played a greatest hits set. It all sounded as it should. People yelled and screamed. I went home dumbfounded but very happy. Eldrich didn’t look so good. He did however sound brilliant. 5/5 for doing what they should have done years ago. Play the songs properly. 4 standouts, Something fast, Alice, this Corrosion and Amphetamine Logic. A great, fun, band. Some 19 year old art students were confused, some Goths looked daft and some fans had a great night.